ESPN’s Joe Lunardi Believes Syracuse Will Make the Big Dance

Mar 4, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim has a discussion with referee Brain Dorsey over a call during the second half of a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 90-61. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Although the outlook could be described as bleak, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi does, indeed, believe Jim Boeheim and Syracuse are tourney bound.

After losing 67-62 to Miami on Wednesday in the ACC Tournament, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi is confident Syracuse will still make the NCAA Tournament. Whether this means they qualify for the First Four in or a regular bid, Lunardi believes that this team will make the tournament.

Despite many losses to subpar teams this season, Syracuse finished as a top-eight team prior to the ACC Tournament and the big dance can easily see 10 teams from this conference participate. Anyone in the Atlantic Coast Conference can win and that is why it is the most competitive conference in all of college basketball.

Up until last year’s tournament, Syracuse was playing pretty much identically to how they have been this season. Syracuse’s 2015-2016 team made the big dance as a No. 10 seed and shocked the world with a magical run to the Final Four.

Syracuse may be in shallow water, but this team deserves to make the tournament. Everyone saw what they did last year, and know what this years team is capable of. Syracuse doesn’t care where they are slotted in this year’s tournament, as long as they are in.

Only time will tell if this team makes the big dance, and let’s hope the committee doesn’t forget how capable this Orange team is under the legendary Jim Boeheim.